2009 Dodge Nitro SLT 4x4 sport utility vehicle 5-door automatic

The 2009 Nitro is a 4-door, 5-passenger sport-utility, available in 6 trims, ranging from the SE 4X2 to the R/T 4X4.Upon introduction, the SE 4X2 is equipped with a standard 3.7-liter, V6, 210-horsepower engine that achieves 16-mpg in the city and 22-mpg on the highway. A 4-Speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard. The R/T 4X4 is equipped with a standard 4.0-liter, V6, 260-horsepower engine that achieves 16-mpg in the city and 20-mpg on the highway. A 5-Speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard. The 2009 Nitro is a carryover from 2008.

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According To KBB Editors'

According to Dodge, the Nitro is the automaker's first midsize SUV. Just like its Durango big brother, however, the 2009 Dodge Nitro straddles a line between two segments, competing on some levels with vehicles from both the compact and midsize SUV categories. It even somewhat threatens to cannibalize sales from the recently introduced Journey, although the Nitro cannot match the Journey's fuel economy or seating capacity numbers. The Nitro's niche in the marketplace is not defined by its measurements, though, but by its bold, unique styling.

Warranty

Anti-Corrosion / 36 mo / unlimited mi

Full Warranty / 36 mo / 36,000 mi

Power train Warranty / Unlimited mo / unlimited mi

Roadside Assistance / 36 mo / 36,000 mi

Driving Impressions

Because the 2009 Dodge Nitro looks so good, is versatile and offers a compelling array of interior features, we found ourselves wishing it had been built from scratch. As it is, the Nitro's Jeep Liberty-derived architecture brings compromises in ride and handling, especially when compared to the newer generation of crossover suvs like the Dodge Journey. Opt for the 260-horsepower V6, five-speed automatic transmission and tighter suspension of the R/T model, though, and it is easier to overlook those shortcomings. In models equipped with the smaller V6 and four-speed automatic, we often found ourselves wishing for either more power or another gear or two.